Railroad-switch



J. ELDER.

RAILROAD SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILEE MAY 26, 1920.

Pamm Feb. 22,1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET If J. ELDER.

RIMLROAD SWITCH.- APPLICATlON FILED MAY 26, I920.

Patented Feb. 22, 192-1.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- UNITED ST PATENT oFFIeE.

JOHN, ELDER, OF RAYMOND, ALBERTA, CANADA,

RAILROAD-SWITCH.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN ELDER, a sub ject of the King of Great Britain,residing at Raymond, in the Province of Alberta and Dominion of Canada,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Switches;and I do'declare the fol lowing to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled intheart to which it appertains to make and'use the same. i

This invention relates to an improved railroad switch of the ordinarytype and one object or" the invention is to provide a switch andimproved operating mechanism so constructed that the switch may bethrown for the main line or side lines and to further so construct theoperating mechanism that the switch may, if desired be returned to itsoriginal position after the train has passed the switch, or maybe leftin the set posi tion.

Another object of the invention is to so construct this switch operatingmechanism that a flying switch may be made.

Another object of the lnventionis to so;

construct the operating mechanism that the switch points may be thrownby a train approaching the switch entrance from either direction, thuspermitting it to be operated by a train moving along the main linetoward the open end of the entrance to the siding or from the oppositedirection and also permit of its being operated by a train which ismoving along the side tracks and about to enter the main line.

Another object of the invention is to so construct this operatingmechanism that it may be mounted upon the ties outside the rails,instead of between the rails and tofurther so construct it that thelevers may extend upwardly where they will be free to move and notliable to be interfered with by snow or ice. I

Another object of the invention is to construct a switch operatingmechanism which will be simple in construction, easy to install and notliable'to readily get out of order or This inventionis illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a top plan view of atrack section provided with the improved operating means for the switch,7 r I Fig. 1 is a continuationof the structure shown in Fig. 1, I 1

Specification of Letters latenti P te t 22, 1 2

Application filed May 26, 1920. Serial No. 384,245. v

Fig. 2 is a view showing the structure of Fig. 1 in side elevation,

Fig. 2 is a continuation of Figf2 and illustrates the structure of Fig.15 in side elevation, and

Fig. 3' is a fragmentary sectional View taken along the line'33 of Fig.2.

This device is used for impartingmovement to the switch points 1 so thatthe'train may be directed from the main line indicated A cross bar 5 isslidably 'mounted trans 'versely of the track and adjacent a foundationbeam 6 and this cross bar is connected with the switch points "so thatwhen the cross bar is moved transversely of the track or longitudinallyof the cross bar, the switch points will be swung from one position toanother and thus'inoved to open the main line or side track according tothe position to which they are moved. Locking hooks or horns 7 arepivotally mounted upon the beam 6 and areconnected with the cross bar 5by rods 8 which'extend in crossed relation as shown, so that the hookswillbe swung upon their pivots when the cross bar is moved and thus thehook-shaped end portion of one of these horns moves into hookingengagemenuwith the free end portion of one of theswltch points while theshank portion of the second horn is'ymoved into contactingengagementwith the side face of the second switch point. It will'thus beseen that one switch point will be held in tight engagement with itscooperating rail, while the secondswitch point is engaged and securelyheld against movement toward its cooperating rails. -This will preventthe switch points from being moved out of'the proper position byvibration and there will be no danger of one portion of a train movinginto a siding and a second portion attempting to move along the'mainline instead of following the forward end portion into the siding.

In order to impart movement to the cross bar 5 there have been providedT-bars or levers 9 and 10 which are pivotally mounted upon the beam 6and connected with the cross bar by pins 11 which extend through slots12 in the levers 9 and 10. Treadles 13;- l i, l6, l7, and 18 arepivotally connected with the ties as shown in Figs. 1 and 1 duplicatetreadles 13 and 14 being provided so that the switch points may bethrown from a point distant from the side tracks or at a pointrelatively close to the side tracks.

V downwardly and connected with links 21 which have their lower endslooselyconnectcd with a turning arm 22 carried by a rocker shaft 23. Therocker shaft23 is rotatably mounted in a bearing24 and carries an arm 25which extends-at an angle to the lever arm 22 as shown in F igs; 2 and 2The two treadles 13 are connected by a rod 2 6 which extends from thelever arm 25 of one treadle 1 3 and is connected with the lever arm 2-5of the secondtreadle 13 andthe two treadles 14 are connected by asimilar rod 27. Bods 2S and 29 connect the lever arm 25 of the treadles13 and 14 with the T-bars 9 and 10 and the T-bars are connectedrespectively with the treadles l5 and '16 by rods 30 and 31 and with thetreadles 17 and 18 by rods 32 and 33. It will thus be seen that whenpres- 7 sure isapplied to one of the treadles,-niove-- ment will betransmitted to the entire operating mechanism as the switch points aremoved from one position to another, movement at the same time beingtransmitted to a the switch point locking mechanism or horns mountedupon the beam 6.

In order to impart movement to the switchpoint operating mechanism fromthe train,

. the engine 34 hasbeen provided with a rocker arm 35 upon one side anda similar Z rocker arm upon the opposite side.- These rocker arms 35 areyieldably held in a vertical position by springs 36'and each is engagedby a rod 37 which extendsinto the cab where the two rods 37 may be'provided with suitable actuating means. -These. I-OCkGI QImS will eachbe connected with a rod 38 which is pivotally mounted and guided andlimited in its swingingmovement by a pin 40 which extends through acurved slot 31. Arms 42 extend forwardly and'rearwardly from the Vrocker arm or lever 39 and carry rollers 43 for engaging the treadles.to depress the same. 1 1

When this improved switch operating mechanism is in use, it is connectedwith the track as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 1 and it the switchpoints are in the position shown with the main line open and the sidetrack closed, a train approaching the switch and intending to move alongthe main line, will 7 pass the switch points and proceed along thel-bars and move the cross bar thus moving the switch points to open thesidings. The cars which have been released from the train and arecoasting along the main line, will be diverted into the siding. iiifollowing train which is to proceed along the main line will have to setthe switch to open the main line and the operating means upon the righthand side of then-ab or engine will be swung to the operative positionso that it will engage the treadle 13 and move the rod 26 to impartmovement to the T-bar or lever and swing the switch points to the properposition. If the switches are set for the main line and a train is toenter the siding, the

'treadles will be pressed upon and the cross bar will be moved to setthe switch line open. It will thus be seenthat a train which has theright of way may proceed. along the main line with the operatingmechanism of the train set toengage the trea-dles for moving theswitchesto-open the main line and there will he no danger of the trainsrunning into an open siding as-the switches will be moved to the properposition before the train reaches the switches. If a train is movingalong the main track from the opposite direction. or bac'king along themain line or if a train isle'aving-a siding,

the wheels of the engine will enga eeither the treadle 17 or thetreadle-18 an switch points to open themain line or siding. It will thusbe seen that with-this im- 7 proved track structure train carriedactuating means, the switches may be operated and moved to the desiredposition without the assistance of a switchma-n and withset the 100points for the side track. Bitter ontering'the 1 side track, theengineer may raise the treadle out it being necessary for the train tocome to a stop.

What is claimed is e 1. The combination with a track structure includinga main line, a side track, and movable switch points and an operatingbar for the same, of actuating mechanism for the switch pointscomprising a lever pivotally mounted with the bar, securing elementsmovably mounted, rods extending from the operating bar and connectedwith the securing elements for moving the securing elements into and outof an operative position as the switch points are moved, and trainactuated operating means carried by the track structure and connectedwith the lever for imparting movement to the same and shifting theposition of the switch points and securing elements. I

2. The combination with a track structure including a main line, a sidetrack and movable switch points and an operating bar for the same, oflocking means for the switch points comprising horns pivotally mountedbetween the switch points, each horn having a curved end portion forengaging the free end portion of its cooperating switch point and havinga shank extension for engaging the side of its switch point, one hornhaving its curved end portion engaging the free end portion of itsswitch point when the second horn has its shank extension engaging theside face of its cooperating switch point, means connecting the hornswith the operating bar for imparting movement to the horns as the switchpolnts are moved, and means for imparting movement to the bar.

3. The combination with a track structure including a main line, a sidetrack, and movable switch points and an operating bar for the same, of T-bars pivotally mounted and havin connection with the operating bar,actuatlng means positioned in the main line to one side of the switchpoints, actuating means in the main line upon the opposite side of theswitch points, actuating.

means in the side track, and actuating means in the side track and mainline for setting the switch points in opposition to the last inentionedmeans of the side track and main me. 1

4. The combination with a trackstructure including a main line, a sidetrack, switch points, and a cross bar connecting the switch points, ofmeans for imparting movement to the switch points including pivotallymounted T-bars having connection with the cross bar, actuating elementsmounted upon opposite sides of the main line in advance of the switchpoints, rods connecting th e actuating elements with the inner endportions of the T-bars, actuating elements mounted in the main linebeyond the switch points, actuating elements mounted in the side trackbeyond the switch points, rods connecting certain of the actuatingelements of the side track and main line with the inner end por-' tionsof the IT-bars, rods connecting the remaining actuating elements of thesidetrack and main line with the outer end portions or the bars.

f 5. The combination with a track structure 7 including a main line, aside track, switch points, and a cross bar connecting the switch points,of operating means for the switch points including levers connected withthe cross bar, means upon one side of the main line connected with oneof the operating levers to'move the cross bar to set the switch pointsin one position, means-upon the opposite side of the main line andconnected with a second lever for moving the cross bar to position theswitch points in a set position, means mounted adjacent the main lineand side track and connected with the levers for imparting movement tothe same reversely to the movement imparted by the first and secondmentioned means, and other means mounted adjacent the side track andmain line and connected with the levers for imparting movement to thesame. I

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN ELDER.

